Garment-stretcher



(N M OdeL) H. S. POLGER.

GARMENT STRETGHER.

No. 387,349. Patented Aug. '7, 1888.

mitneas es N. PETERS Fholeuihngraphnr, Washington, DC.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

HARRY S. FOLGER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

GARMEN'T STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 387,349, dated Augus 1Serial No. 271,467. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY S. FoLGER, a

c1t1zen of the United States, residing at Springfield, 1n the county ofClark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Stretching and Drying Frames, of which the following isa specification. My lnvention relates to a device for stretching woolengarments,and is particularly adapted for stretching woolen shirts orundergarments of children while drying after being laundered.

Woolen garments, as is well known, shrink conslderably when laundered.Especially is this true of the small woolen under-garments of infants orchildren. To such an extent does this shrinkage occur that the smallwoolen shirts worn by infants and children after being laundered severaltimes become almost useless, as the shrinkage is so great that thechildren cannot wear them.

I The object of my invention is to provide a simple device of novelconstruction for stretchlng and drying garments of this character,thesald device being adjustable to adapt it to different slze garments andto permit it to be readily removed from the garment placed thereon whendesired.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations ofparts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my inventlou. Fig.2 is a plan view showing the parts separated and partly in section. Fig.3 1s a detail view of one of the corner holding clamps. Fig. at is asimilar view of the opposite side of said clamp. Fig. 5 is a sectionalView of the same.

The general construction of my improved device consists of the mainframe A.having at the upper corner clamping-pieces B B,to which aresecured arms 0 G. The main frame A is made in two parts, A A, preferablyof steel, iron, or brass wire of sufficient size to secure the necessarystiffness. The parts A and A are preferably made of a U shape, adaptedto be connected together at the top and bottom to form the rectangularframe A. The parts are preferably held together by means ofcoupling-pieces D, each provided with an opening, 0, adapted to receivethe ends I) b of the re spective pieces A and A and a clampingscrew, a,screw-threaded in said coupling B,

extending into the opening a, so as to bind against the respective partsI) b. The cornerpieces are each provided on one side with a grooveshaped to fit the corner of the U shaped pieces forming the frame. Inapplying the corner-pieces to the frame the groove 0 is slipped over thewire at the corner and is secured therein by soldering or in any otherconvenient and suitable manner. Extending through the corner piece B ina plane above the plane of the wires forming the frame A, and parallelto the end pieces,b b,of said frame, is an opening-or sleeve, 0, and atright angles thereto is a clamping-Somme", adapted to project into saidopening.

Thearms C consist, preferably, of a si niglepiece of brass, iron,orsteel, having a degree of elasticity or resilience, and bent, as shown,to form a V-shaped spring'arm. In attaching the arms 0 to the frame Aone end, d,of the said arm is slipped through the sleeve 0 of the cornerpiece B, and clamped therein in any desired position by theclamping-screw c", the other end, (2, of the said arm remaining free,and adapted by the resilience of the metal to be moved to adjust the armto different sizes, as desired.

The clamping'screw a of the coupling D is preferably provided with anopen head, a, which will form a convenient point for sus pension of theframe when in use.

In using the frame the parts -A and A are adjusted to the proper sizeand the arm 0 pushed through the sleeves 0' until only a small portionremains projected. The shirt or other garment as it comes from thelaundry-tubs is slipped over the frame A and the arms 0 drawn throughthe arm portion of the garment until the said arm portions are stretchedto the proper degree. The arms 0 are then secured in position by theclamping screw 0 and the frame suspended from the screw a until thegarment is dried. When properly dried,the arms 0 may be withdrawn, andby loosening the clamping screws a the ICC parts of the frame may beclosed together, so that the garment can be readily removed therefrom.

By the construction above described woolen garments, especially smallshirts used by infants and children, may be readily dried withoutshrinkage and the garments removed therefrom when so dried.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. An adjustable drying andstretching frame composed of two U-shapcd pieces of resilient metal,connecting-couplers adapted to slip over the ends of the respectivepieces,and a clampingscrew in each of said couplers for holding saidpieces in different positions of adjustment, a V-shaped springarmconnected to each of said U-shaped pieces, and means, substantially asdescribed, for holding said arms in different positions of adjustment,substantially as set forth.

2. An adjustable drying and stretching frame provided with cornerpieceshaving longitudinal openings therein and adjustable spring-arms adaptedto be inserted in said openings, substantially as specified.

3. The adjustable stretching frame com posed of the two U-shaped pieces,the free ends of which are connected together by couplings, asdescribed,the corner-pieces having the longitudinal openings, aclamping-screw, and the independent spring-arms adapted to be secured tosaid corner-pieces and adjusted therein, substantially as specified.

4. The adjustable stretching and drying frame composed of the U-shapedpieces, the free ends of which are connected together byconnecting-couplers, so as to be adjustable, as described, thecorner-pieces grooved on one side to receive the said wire,which issecured therein, and provided on the other with an opening to receiveone end of the V-shaped spring-arm, means for holding said spring armsindifferent positions of adjustment in said corner-pieces, and asuspension'ring on said connecting-coupler,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of April,A. D. 1888.

HARRY S. FOLGER.

Witnesses:

PAUL A. STALEY, W. I. GROVE.

